Joan Rivers claims CNN fur interview not a publicity stunt

Joan Rivers walked off a CNN set after what Rivers calls a "defensive interview" that aired Saturday, but some believe the interview was a publicity stunt.

CNN reporter Fredricka Whitfield brought up the fact the 81-year-old Rivers is wearing fur on the cover of her new book -- and how she must have known animal activists would come calling.

Rivers responded, "I don't wanna hear this nonsense ... you know what? I'm going! All you have done is negative ... I have made people laugh for fifty years! ... I wear fur that was killed fifteen years ago ... sorry!"

Unsurprisingly, the Internet is now buzzing over the whole ordeal.

Simply searching 'Joan Rivers' on Twitter brings up tweet after tweet of commentary. She's been named a "mad diva" and called her out for "losing her temper."

Because the interview was about her new book, the possibility of this all being a publicity stunt isn't completely out of the question.

But E!'s 'Fashion Police' host told The Wrap she never does PR stunts, adding, "The CNN interviewer was a news reporter and not an entertainment reporter ... She did not seem to understand we were talking about a comedy book and not the transcripts from the Nuremburg (sic) Trial. Every question was an accusatory one designed to put me on the defensive.''

Rivers also drew a lot of attention prior to her LAST book release in 2012. E! points out that's when she handcuffed herself to a cart at Costco after the chain refused to carry her book. And let's be real. The host makes a living making fun of people.

The Daily Beast straight up called her out. See that red 'hypocrite' right above the headline? It mentioned "Joan Rivers is famous for dishing out acerbic celebrity critiques, but apparently, she can't take it as good as she gives."

Whitfield said she thought Rivers was just having fun, but later realized she was serious when she stormed off and kept her microphone on -- Whitfield heard her drop some "unflattering four-letter words."

'News reporter...'? The fact that many people like real fur is not news. This is one reason liberals are not taken more seriously......'Do what I tell you to or I will make you'. That crap has gotten old.Win people over, don't screw with them.